Latching device.



WIT/VEgES 5 I W. P. BANGROFT.

LATGHING DEVICE.

APPL'IOATION FILED SEPT, 24, 1913.

1,107,569. Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGION. D. C.

nnrrnn STATES ratrnn'r onnicn.

WILLIAM PAYNE BANCROFT, OF BOSTWICK, NEBRASKA.

LA'I'GI-IING DEVICE.

ioness.

Application filed September 2 1, 1913.

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My lnvention, although capable of use as a latching device generally, 1smore partlcularly lntended for use in connection with a swinging wringersupport, to hold the lat ter in a given position.

It is a design of my invention to provide a latching device that willhold a wringer support or equivalent element tightly 1n the fastenedposition.

It is also a design of my invention to provide a latch improved invarious particulars, with a view to promote economy of manufacture andsimplicity of operation.

The invention will be particularly explained in the specific descriptionfollowm l-teference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, in which similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of a latch embodying my invention,showing the same in connection with a wringer support; Fig. 2 is aperspective view, the wringer being omitted, and the wringer supportbeing held in the latched position; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated in connection with aswinging supporting bar 10, adapted to sustain a wringer 40 A, the saidbar being hinged to a washing machine or stationary tub B to swing overa receptacle C.

The latch bar 10, or any equivalent element to be fastened is providedwith a lug 10 adapted to be swung adjacent to a member B supporting myimproved latching device. Said latching device comprises a latch bar 11having a hook 12 at one end thereof, thereby presenting a recess 13 toreceive the lug 10 The latch bar is adapted to be moved upwardly andoutwardly to clear the lug 10 in releasing the latter as hereinafterdescribed. The inner wall 14 of the recess 13 is diagonal for the latchbar 55 to better clear the lug 10 Adjacent to the front end or latchingend Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 118, 191 1.

Serial No. 791,562.

I of the bar 11, a diagonal slot 15 is formed for receiving a relativelyfixed pin 16, which in this instance is secured to the supporting memberB. A washer or washers 16 on the outer end of the pin may be employed toprevent the displacement of the latch bar axially of the pin. That endof the latch bar opposite the hook 12 is connected with a lever 17fulcrumed as at 18, to the fixed support and pivotally connected as at19, to the latch bar. The relative arrangement of the lever and latchbar is such that the pivotal connection 19 of the latch bar in thelatching position, will be dead-centered with the fulcrum 18, so that anoutward pull on the lever by a force exerted against the supporting bar10 or its equivalent will be resisted and an outward movement orreleasing movement of the latch bar prevented. The latched position ofthe lever is indicated in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that the pivot19 is on or slightly past a dead center, with the fulcrum 18; also inthe latching position the handle 20 of the lever lies against the latchbar at the underside, the said handle constituting a lateral stopmember, contact of which with the latch bar limits the movements of theparts. To throw the latch bar to the latching position, the lever isgiven a reverse movement from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shownin Fig. 3.

The action of the lever on the latch bar is such that as the latchapproaches the latched position it will be given more of a longitudinalmovement than a vertical one, whereas the movement of the latch whennear the unlatched position will be more nearly vertical, the purposebeing to insure that in latching, the latch bar will first quickly bedropped downwardly over the lug 10 of the member to be fastened, andwill then be drawn rearwardly to draw the fastened member tightlyagainst the support B, or equivalent element or structure. For thepurpose mentioned a depression presenting a front wall 15 is formedcomplementary to the slot 15, at the lower end of the latter, and saidwall approaches more nearly the vertical than the diagonal upper end 15of the front wall of the slot.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a latching device, a latch bar formed with a hook at one end andwith a diagonal slot ad acent to said hook, there being a depressioncomplementary to the slot near one end thereof, at the forward side, arelatively fixed pin extending into said slot, and a lever pivotallyconnected with the latch bar at the end opposite the hook, the lever andlatch bar being movable to positions with the pivotal connection of thesaid bar approximately dead centered with the fulcrum.

2. In a latching device, a latch bar, a lever pivotally connected withthe bar near one end and fulcrumed on a relatively fixed support, thesaid bar having a hook formation at the end opposite the lever forlatching engagement with the article to be latched, and

permanent supporting and guiding means for the latch bar between thehook formation thereon and the lever, said means comprising a diagonalslot 1n the said bar, additional to two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAll/l PAYNE BANCROFT.

Witnesses:

E. L. SEELY, J. R. CHAMBERLAlN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. a

In testimony whereof I have signed my a name to this specification 1nthe presence of

